PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Tombs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and paulie mandolla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tombs
vs
mandolla

196 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steven Tombs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, paulie mandolla!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tombs throws the kick towards the body but mandolla avoids it.
Tombs tries to clinch but mandolla is having none of it.
mandolla tries to clinch there but Tombs circles away.
Tombs tries to clinch but fails miserably

and mandolla counters with a single leg into guard. Tombs didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tombs seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
mandolla wants to control from the top but Tombs keeps moving.
Tombs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for mandolla on the ground.
Tombs trying to control the position here.
Tombs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
mandolla looking to sit in guard and control but Tombs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
mandolla trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tombs is looking to work some ground and pound but mandolla has wrist control.
mandolla is trying to keep Tombs in close.
mandolla is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
mandolla looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tombs is one step ahead there.
mandolla has a closed guard, preventing Tombs from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
mandolla clinches but Tombs breaks the clinch

and Tombs decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in mandolla's guard.
Tombs is breathing heavily.
Tombs with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now mandolla is on top in guard.
mandolla scoring with punches to the head and body.
mandolla wants to control from the top but Tombs keeps moving.
Tombs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tombs keeping moving, preventing mandolla from controlling successfully.

mandolla stands up from Tombs's guard - mandolla perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
mandolla gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tombs holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Tombs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
mandolla blocks a head kick by Tombs.
mandolla gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tombs counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in mandolla's guard now.
mandolla trying to keep a closed guard but Tombs is proving a slippery customer.
Tombs has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tombs lands a couple of digs.
mandolla throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

mandolla pushes Tombs off and gets back to his feet.
mandolla with a poor takedown
and Tombs counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Steven Tombs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of paulie mandolla.
mandolla wants to clinch but Tombs slips to the side

and Tombs counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tombs.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tombs - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tombs trying to stall but mandolla improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tombs pushes mandolla back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
mandolla tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tombs smiles and moves away.
Tombs tries to clinch but fails miserably

and mandolla counters by clinching up.
Tombs blocks the elbow strike.
mandolla misses with a punch on the inside.
Tombs is trying to drag mandolla to the mat but mandolla just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tombs is working mandolla over against the cage.
Tombs throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, mandolla creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

mandolla lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
mandolla is trying to control the action in half guard but Tombs is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tombs is trying to get back to full guard.
Tombs is staying active underneath mandolla, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Steven Tombs will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on paulie mandolla's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Tombs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
mandolla tries for a takedown but Tombs circles away easily
and Tombs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tombs tries to clinch but mandolla moves out of range.

Tombs instigates a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
mandolla doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
mandolla wants a takedown.
Tombs landing knees to the head.
Tombs lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Tombs manages to break the clinch.
mandolla fails with the takedown
and Tombs counters with a body kick.
Steven Tombs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of paulie mandolla.
Tombs tries to clinch

and mandolla counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
mandolla is trying to control. Tombs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tombs looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mandolla is trying to control. Tombs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
mandolla thows a huge punch but Tombs dodges it nicely.

Tombs kicks off mandolla and gets to his feet.

Tombs rushes mandolla and presses him up against the cage.
mandolla lands with a left to the head.
mandolla drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Tombs breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
mandolla doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Tombs counter with a right hand.
mandolla misses with a takedown

and Tombs counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for mandolla!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
mandolla tries to lock up and control but Tombs gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tombs lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Tombs scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish mandolla?
mandolla is working to get back to half guard.
Tombs trying to control but mandolla is having none of it.
mandolla wants to control but Tombs is having none of it.
Tombs controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tombs landing punches.
Tombs unloads with some shots from mount but mandolla bucks and avoids them well.
mandolla tries to hold on but Tombs postures up.
Tombs trying to control but mandolla is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tombs with the ground and pound from mount.
mandolla tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tombs working mandolla over with strikes here.
Tombs lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
mandolla tries to lock up and control but Tombs gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tombs wants to control the pace but mandolla is squirming around nicely.
Tombs is really struggling to control mandolla but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Tombs is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Tombs dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on paulie mandolla's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

mandolla gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tombs counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
mandolla is trying to maintain the position but Tombs is very close to passing his half guard.
mandolla avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tombs.
Tombs performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
mandolla avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tombs.
mandolla keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
mandolla is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mandolla is looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
mandolla is trying to control but Tombs manages to pass to mount!
Tombs blocks mandolla's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
mandolla is bucking up trying to escape but Tombs cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
mandolla tries to hold on but Tombs pushes him away.
Tombs in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
mandolla tries to hold on but Tombs postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Despite being in the dominant position, paulie mandolla just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
mandolla keeps the fight on the outside.
mandolla misses with a takedown

and Tombs counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

mandolla has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tombs clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Tombs is trying to defend against the choke here but mandolla has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. mandolla Tightens the hold and Tombs taps out furiously! mandolla displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). paulie mandolla!